Technology in crises

Want to put your tech skills to use saving the world? Check out these three organizations who are doing just that!

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Last week’s bombing at the Boston marathon, and ensuing investigation, manhunt & capture, showcased the increasing role that technology is playing in how we respond to crisis. The entire country sat rapt in front of our twitter feeds, or listening to the Boston Police scanner stream online, while a Boston-based tech firm worked to furiously analyze video footage taken in and around the site of the attack.

Of course, this isn’t new news; we know that technology is playing an increasingly important role in how we respond to and cope with everything, including disaster.

What is exciting is to see is how technical skills (technical skills you can learn) can literally save lives in crisis situations.

Want to put your tech skills to use saving the world? Check out these three organizations who are building technology to allow you to do just that:

1. Google.orgis devoted to creating technologies that address some of the greatest challenges facing the globe. They have created the People Finder, which was used right after the Boston Marathon, as well as Flu Trends, which tracks the spread of disease.

3. Tor is a tech company that is working to protect our privacy, and by extension, freedom of speech, online. One of their projects is called the Tor Cloud, which allows people like you and I to help activists and political organizers around the world access the uncensored Internet.

Want to help the cause of political freedom? Go set up a bridge right now.